NJ Gov. Christie visits US Capitol, GOP senators

WASHINGTON (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he came to Washington to support a friend — and ended up meeting some new ones.

Christie visited the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to attend events for New Jersey Sen. Jeff Chiesa, whom Christie appointed. That included a meeting Christie arranged with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other members of Senate GOP leadership.

Chiesa’s term ends after an Oct. 16 special election. He was appointed to replace the late Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Christie says he doesn’t think “it’s ever good to keep government closed when your job is to run the government.” But he says he isn’t in Washington to offer advice.